David and Bathsheba

2 Sam 5

I marvel at how David asked God questions about future outcomes, and about His will, and how God answered with such clear instructions. Wish I could do that!

Luke 14
‘And whosoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’ 

I’m reminded today of the Christian tenets of discipline and dying to self. They’re still important to God. I think we end up doing a lot of things or abstaining from a lot of things on autopilot. Today, I’m reminded that when I die to self, God noticed. When I decide to discipline myself, it matters to God - and He’s the primary reason why I need to do it, anyway.

2 Sam 6

I love the humanness of David: his anger at God when Uzzah died; his sudden fear of God as a result. I also admire his courage in trying again to bring back the Ark of God. He could’ve easily given up after the tragic incident, but he strategized and tried again.

I read about David and Michal and immediately thought about the ‘unequal yoke.’ They were clearly not on the same page. I could imagine the tension! How could the wife of David not understand the importance of worship? And how could David have married someone who didn’t? When he came to bless his household, she related with him in contempt. It made me wonder if her childlessness might’ve been due to a curse from David, who had actually entered the house to bless his household.

2 Sam 11

Two key things from the David and Bathsheba story:

1. The strong, deadly deceitfulness of sin, or what our flesh wants. It’s like being in a trance and not having your eyes opened until the very end when the destruction has been too great. I’ve been there. Keep me alert, Lord, and give me a loathing for things which clearly don’t please you. 
2. The discipline of Uriah! What an unsung hero! Committed, focused, undistracted, well-trained soldier, trained for battle, team player. First things first. Bless his heart. Give me the same spirit, Lord.